Is it OK to put long curtains on short windows?

Author: Santiago Schowalter  |  Last update: Friday, June 17, 2022

Hanging long drapes on a short window is one of the easiest ways to increase the importance of the window and bring it into proportion to the room. Short drapes on a short window call attention to the size of the window and reduce the significance of the room, window and drapery style.

Is it better to have curtains too long or too short?

Short curtains. Short curtains and drapes are not ideal, and most often you don't want curtains that hang more than an inch above the ground. Too short curtains can not only look outdated, but they can also sometimes make the ceiling look lower.

Can you have curtains that are too long?

For curtains that are way too long, you may have a lot of excess fabric left. You can trim this extra material at the end, but if you don't want to cut the curtains, make 2 or 3 folds so the excess material is tucked in neatly.

How much longer than window should curtains be?

Measure the width of the rod from left to right. A common rule for displaying curtains properly says the curtains finished width should be at least 2 times the width of your window (if not more - sheers can be 3 times the window width) to achieve a look of proper fullness.

How long should curtains be below window sill?

Sill Length

1/2" above the window sill. Casual and charming. These are the shortest of the standard curtain lengths, which makes them a good opportunity to have some fun with pattern or color. Since they take up less visual space, you won't get tired of a bold choice.

HANGING CURTAINS? DON'T MAKE THESE 5 TERRIBLE MISTAKES!

How far should curtains hang below the window sill?

While fashion once dictated a “flood level” bottom line for curtains—one that hung just past the window sill, short enough that it would not get wet in a flood—today, style calls for curtains to either hang down to within ½-inch of the floor or even puddle slightly.

How do you shorten long curtains without cutting them?

When curtains appear too long, try sewing a hem, which can allow you to shorten curtains without cutting curtains to length so you can retain the fabric if you want to. Another way of shortening curtains is to incorporate a folded design with buttons as fasteners. Folding the curtain hem up creates a double hem.

How do you hide curtains that are too short?

3 Ways to Make Sure you get a Perfect Hang-Length
  1. 1) Get the 96″ length curtains and re-hang your rod higher on your wall, if you have the room. (Zero cost) ...
  2. 2) Buy the 96″ length curtains and trim/hem them to the right length. (Medium cost) ...
  3. 3) Sew on a border to the bottom of your 84″ curtains.

How long should the curtains be?

Just Hitting the Floor or Sill

The fabric should just touch the floor or hover 1/2 inch above. This is also a great approach for café curtains (short panels that cover only the lower portion of a window and hit the sill), which work well in spots like the kitchen and bathroom, where long drapes aren't practical.

Can short curtains ever look good?

Short Curtains

Visually speaking, high-water style is not the most appealing way to hang curtains. The shorter length can appear dated. Also, it can cut the visual height of your room in half. From a purely practical standpoint, however, short curtains are sometimes the best option.

How do you hang curtains with different height windows?

If one of your windows is taller than the others, mount the curtains above all the windows at the height of the tallest window so they all appear to be the same size. You may even want to mount the curtain rods just below the ceiling throughout the room to give the illusion of large, expansive windows.

What kind of curtains go on small windows?

For traditional curtains, medium-weight fabrics, rather than heavy, velvet drapes, often work best with smaller windows. Look at the fabric in front of the window to determine how it filters the light and how it will enhance the window, despite its small size.

Do long curtains make a room look bigger?

Making Your Room Look Larger or Smaller with Curtains

High-hanging curtains with long vertical stripes create the illusion of height, which is excellent for low ceilings. However, short curtains and horizontal stripes shorten your wall height and make the room appear smaller.

Should curtains touch the floor or window sill?

The material should barely touch the floor or hover half an inch above. Use this approach for café curtains, too, short panels covering only the lower portion of a window, hitting the sill, which works well in kitchens and bathrooms, where long drapes or curtains aren't practical.

Is it OK if curtains don't touch the floor?

The answer to this question is important because it can affect the way we do our decorations. Yes, curtains should be long enough to touch the floor. With a few exceptions, the longer the curtains are the more stylish and elegant it will look. This is why most standard ready-made curtains are lengthy.

How far should a curtain rod extend past window?

As a general rule, drapes will be open during the day, so make sure the curtain rod extends at least four inches on each side of the window's inside frame. To create the illusion of a wider window, extend the rod up to 10 inches beyond the window's frame.

Should all curtains be the same length?

As a general rule of thumb, curtain width should be two to two-and-a-half times the width of the window. Curtains are typically sold as pairs, but you may need to double up depending on the size of your window.

How do you shorten curtains without sewing?

While the curtains are still hanging, fold the bottom of the curtains under to the desired length. Use the stick pins to hold, to keep it folded and in place. Bring the curtain bottom up to the ironing board and iron a crease on the new fold. Cut off excess curtain a couple of inches past the fold and remove the pins.

Can you cut curtains in half?

My husband helped me hold them taut, and I cut them in half lengthwise. It doesn't even need to be perfectly straight, because that edge will be folded under. Then, I followed the directions on the hem tape. I cut a strip the length of the curtain panel and pinned it along the cut edge, paper side up.

What is best for small windows?

Blinds are another popular option for small windows as you can measure them to fit within the window frame. Both shades and blinds are more functional than curtains. Pleated blinds or wide-slatted wooden Venetian blinds let lots of sun into a space, and vertical designs are better for tall and thin windows.

Which curtain length looks best?

If you are interested in stationary panels, you will want your curtains to be long enough to lightly brush the floor, but not so long that they bunch up in a pile. A good rule of thumb is for your curtains to break anywhere from a ¼” to ½” from the floor, similar to a break in pant legs on your shoe.

Can you have different length curtains in the same room?

Consistency is key in good interior design, and mixing and matching different styles of drapery in one room shouldn't be done without good reason. “Generally, if all the windows are the same size,” Jacobson advises, “I would recommend the same style window treatment throughout.”

Can you mismatch curtains?

The safest way to make sure that your room looks unified and put-together is to match your curtains. Most design experts would argue that it's best to keep your curtains' look uniform unless there is a significant reason why. If you want to mix curtains, it's best to mix two patterns or colors evenly.

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